264 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March 



in the trees, even when these are withovit leaves. These birds 

 were seen as late as February 2Sth. 



The White-winged Crossbill {Loxia leucoplera) was here in 

 great numbers late in fall and some at least must have remained 

 for the winter, because on February 8th, a part of one was found 

 at the Experimental Farm by Mr. Groh. The other part had just 

 been eaten by a Northern Shrike. This cross-bill is in its wander- 

 ings and appearances almost just as unreliable and erratic as the 

 first two species named. 



Of similar habits, only not to the same degree, are the 

 Redpoll {Acanthis linaria) and the Pine Siskin {Spinus pinus). 

 Both of these little birds haA^e been here this winter in more than 

 usual numbers. Even three of the rare Hoary Redpolls 

 (A. hornentannii exilipes) were seen January 24th in a yard on 

 Wurtemberg Street. 



An extremely rare freak in nature was seen by the writer 

 on January 19th on Rideau Street. In a flock of English Sparrows 

 nearly at his feet, was a red English Sparrow. Nor was the red 

 over only a small area, or of an indistinct, brownish hue, but very 

 bright and general. It was a crimson shade below, like the red 

 of the male Pine Grosbeak, and a brick-red like the American 

 Crossbill on the back. Otherwise, in size, build, shape and 

 behavior, he was like the English Sparrows in whose company he 

 was; also, the wings and tail were like those of this far too 

 common denizen of our streets. For several reasons it is not 

 likely that this bird was a h3^brid between the common sparrow 

 and, say the Purple Finch or one of the Crossbills. It must, 

 therefore, have been a case of erythrism, like there are cases of 

 melanism and albinism. In fact there are usually some albino or 

 partly albino English Sparrows to be seen in winter in our streets, 

 as during this winter, when some with large patches or a collar 

 of white have been seen near By market. 



A first record for Ottawa is the occurrence, November 2nd, 

 of several King Eiders (Somateria speciahilis). Four of these 

 were shot and mounted. On December 2nd another flock of 75, 

 mostly young ones, came up the river and stayed for a while near 

 some of the boathouses on the river. Ten of these were shot by 

 the ever present gunners. The remainder went up the river and 

 were observed as far as Pembroke, Ont. 



Finally, those mysterious wanderers from far northern shores, 

 the Brunnich Murre {Uria lomvia), appeared again, December 

 1st, when six were seen. On the 19th of the same month they 

 came in large numbers, about 500 being seen winging their way 

 up the river. Many of course fall victims to the numerous 

 gunners, with which our river seems to be lined, in and out of 



